**LIAM**

It's exactly 6 days since Leila volunteered to go with the rival pack and here I was pouring a glass of whiskey for Lucian, trying to keep my emotions in check. Leila, my sister, was missing, and I was desperate to find her. But Lucian didn't know that. To him, she was just a traitor who had left his pack for Antonio's.


Most times, I wanted to scream out loud that she was with Antonio before he kidnapped her but that would probably endanger my life.

Lucian's venting was like a knife to my heart. "Leila, of all people, leaving my pack? Unthinkable!" he growled, his eyes flashing with anger. He was speaking with the Alpha tone and every other guard in the room lowered their head but for some reasons, the Alpha tone wasn't working on me.

I kind of noticed that I had been different since the time I encountered Leila displaying the powers that I didn't know she had.


I wonder if anyone has told her that she behaved more like mom. Displaying the same traits and it made me remember my mum for a few seconds.

Scratch that!!!


I forced myself to remain neutral, but inside, I was seething. How could Lucian think she would betray him like that? She was my sister, and I knew she would never do something like that willingly.

Even if Lucian was a dick, she was his mate and respected him regardless.

"And to leave for Antonio's pack, of all places?" Lucian continued, his voice laced with disgust. "It's a betrayal, Liam. A slap in the face." Lucian grolwed as he gulped down the cup of whiskey, the sound of the contents of the glass going down in a dramatic way.

I couldn't argue with him, not without revealing the truth. And I couldn't do that yet. I had to find out what had happened to Leila first.

Lucian's words were like a weight on my chest. "You trusted her, Liam. You gave her your friendship and she's your mate. You loved her so much that you even had to kidnap her..." I stated and trailed off as I saw Lucian twitching his eye brows.

Oh boy, this shouldn't escalate.

"Are you saying I kidnapped my mate? She's my mate and I have every right to bring her home." Lucian yelled banging his hands on the table dramatically as he eyed me maliciously.

I'm not about to argue with a conceiting Alpha.

I couldn't meet his eyes, fearing he'd see the pain and worry there. Leila was in trouble, and I had to find her before it was too late.

As the night wore on, Lucian's fury only intensified, his words laced with venom. "I should have seen it coming. Leila always was a snake in the grass, waiting for the perfect moment to strike."

I couldn't take it anymore.

"Are you sure she was the only snake among the wolves here,. As much as I can remember, a wolf was about punishing his mate because another woman said so and that's not so wolf like." I shot back and Lucian swiveled in his seat to glare at me.

"What did you say?" Lucian questioned, punctuating every word with a pause so I could see how dangerous he was sounding.

"Nothing my Lord, the whiskey has run dry. I'd get a refill right away."I excused myself, unable to bear the weight of Lucian's anger and my own fear for Leila's safety. I had to find out what Antonio had done to her, and I had to do it before Lucian found out the truth.

I made my way through the dense forest, my heart pounding with anticipation and a hint of fear. I was finally going to meet the priestess, the one being who could help me understand Leila's powers and our family's mysterious past.

As I walked, the trees seemed to close in around me, their branches tangling above my head like skeletal fingers. I quickened my pace, my senses on high alert.

Suddenly, a hand clamped down on my shoulder, spinning me around. I faced a group of shadowy figures, their eyes glowing like embers in the dark.

"You're not going anywhere, Liam," one of them growled, their voice like a rusty gate.

I tried to struggle, but they were too strong. They bound my wrists and ankles with thick ropes, rendering me helpless.

"Who are you?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.

The leader, a towering figure with a scar across his cheek, sneered at me. "We're the ones who will make sure you never reach the Priestess."

I knew I was in grave danger.

As they dragged me deeper into the forest, I knew I had to think fast. I couldn't let them win. I had to find a way to escape, to reach the Goddess and unlock the secrets of my family's past.

But for now, I was at their mercy, a prisoner in the dark woods, with no escape in sight.

But I was stunned when I was roughly thrown on the ground when we got to a center, and the voice that bellowed out surprised me;

"Liam, did you really think we didn't know that Leila is your sister? It was obvious." I heard Lucian's voice utter and with the deadly glint in his eyes, it was either I killed people to escape or I killed people to escape.

There was no other option.

"Alpha?" I called out as I looked up to meet his eye.

"Yes, Liam. Quite a surprise to see me here right? Where are you headed? If I remember correctly, you said you wanted to get a refill of my whiskey." Lucian said and I swallowed hard.

He already knew that Leila was my sister so what else did he know about my life?

"I just wanted to take a stroll, my Lord. Sorry but I've been feeling quite ill lately." I lied hoping that he would buy it though I knew inside of me that he wouldn't.

"Really? Or are you visiting the priestess to find more about your sister?"